The Bike Show returns to Essex and Martin Newell, writer, poet, musician and horticultural assassin, for another helping of Spoke N Word. This year’s programme features a new route from Wivenhoe to Bentley Green, reported to be the largest village green in England. We cross fields, pass through woodland and finish on a series of quiet country lanes. Rain threatens but Martin is equipped with a waterproof poetry kit.

In the studio is Andy Cox, with the latest developments on the UK premier of the Symphony for Singing Bicycles, set for Saturday 7 July. Got a dynamo? Want to take part? We need up to 24 riders, so please get in touch via bikeshow(at)gmail(dot)com.

In this week’s show we hear from Patrick Field about how to survive the grueling Paris-Brest-Paris: by riding a recumbent. Also a look at the blossoming world of bicycle radio and podcasting and a look ahead to the best in cyclosportives in 2007.

First run in 1891 as a race designed to demonstrate the practicality of the bicycle, Paris Brest Paris has since become a four yearly event that attracts long distance cyclists from around the world. This year is a Paris Brest Paris year and Kieron Yates – this week standing in for Jack Thurston – talks to Richard Phipps of Audax UK, the British long distance cycling association, about preparing for the ride and what to expect should he make it to Paris.

Also on today’s show Kieron tries to discover just how it is that we stay upright on our bikes as we pootle off down the road. Physicist, Dr Helen Czerski, provides the answers, describes the ‘Einstein flip‘, and confirms the efficiency of the bicycle. Helen is a member of the NOISE network of scientists.

Could 2007 be the best year yet for cycling in London? In the studio with Guy Andrews, editor of Rouleur magazine and Barry Mason of Southwark Cyclists. We discuss the coming of Le Tour de France to London, the 15th Dunwich Dynamo and other group rides organized by Southwark Cyclists and ask whether London cycling will continue to boom. We also preview the Rapha Roller Race on 10 February with Therese Bjorn.

The first ten Bike Show listeners to donate to Resonance fm’s survival fund will receive a free copy of the current edition of Rouleur magazine – newstand price Â£9 ($18). You can donate via Paypal or Credit Card and make sure to leave a note saying that you’d like a copy of Rouleur and give your postal address.

Women bike messengers might cut a better figure on the roads than their grungy, bearded and tattooed male counterparts, but are the girls better at their jobs than the boys? The answer is yes, if a handful of London’s women bike messengers are to be believed. For details on the upcoming Roller Races, look here.

We also have Hugo Gladstone riding with the Stourbridge Bicycle Users Group on a ‘suburban secrets’ adventure that takes in the 2.3 km Netherton canal tunnel. Wooohh!! Echoooohh!!

And if you want to help the Bike Show and all Resonance fm’s unique broadcasting stay on the air…. don’t delay!

You can donate to our emergency fund quickly and painlessly here. Remember, all the programme-makers and engineers on Resonance are unpaid. We need to raise Â£60,000 now to pay for basic things like renting our studio (a damp and airless cave) and powering our antenna (a rusty coathanger tied to the top of a hospital). It’s not rocket science but without donations from listeners, it will all come to an end very soon.